Barring any setbacks in his recovery, Evgeni Malkin will rejoin the Penguins lineup for Game One against the Columbus Blue Jackets after missing the last 11 games of the season with a foot injury. But just filling a roster spot will not be enough for this Russian superstar.
Geno will need to play at a caliber we haven’t seen since he won the Art Ross and Conn Smythe trophies in 2009; a season that saw him score 113 points in the regular season and 36 during the playoffs.
This is most important because this team, unfortunately, is not very deep when it comes to scoring. And while players like James Neal and Chris Kunitz will need to be relied upon, Sidney Crosby and Malkin will need to play like the players we all know they can be, if this postseason is to be a success.
Being the Penguins all-time leading regular-season point producer against Columbus with 17 points in 11 games with at least a point in 10 straight against them, we all know that Crosby will come out blazing in game one and stay consistent all postseason.
Malkin, on the other hand, could come into this series and struggle. Not because he doesn’t play well against this team (he has three points in two games against them this season) but because he is a player who is known for not coming back from injury well.
In order for the Penguins to succeed, Malkin will need to find a way to overcome that habit and show the world why he should still be considered one of the best in the world.
With the lack of depth and the inconsistent scoring on the third and fourth lines, it’s time for the superstars to shine. And while we know what to expect from Crosby, when it comes to Malkin, there has never been a time that the Penguins have needed him more than now.
Anything less than an MVP performance from him will be a disappointment, as it seems unlikely the Penguins can succeed if he fails.
The time is now, Malkin. It’s time you earn your place among the best in the world.
